Cheat Day...?

SugarQueen_x

So I totally pigged out at a party. -_-
I felt super guilty, so I asked my mom if I had utterly destroyed my diet. She said that when one of her friends went on a diet, they allowed themselves one "cheat day" a week to eat pretty much whatever they wanted, and they still lost weight.
Is it okay to take a cheat day? I mean, can you still lose weight just as long as you're good every other day of the week?

MissChyna

Two of my doctors told me that cheat days are ok...as long as you don't go overboard

jojohnson090

I allow myself "cheat times" occasionally. If they are infrequent and you have worked hard then you deserve them!
like right now, I have had wayyyy too much to drink but I work hard so tomorrow I will work it off. :-)
It's all about moderation.

eta: my drinking was NOT moderation. it was my bday and my mom came to visit me so we had a fun time and drank a lot/ate a lot.

cheers!

pinkraynedropjacki

What day? Sorry cheat day you said. You are only cheating yourself. Plus diet is a bad word, diets always fail. :explode:

TrishLG

One of the trainers for Biggest Loser was saying that a cheat day per week is good, otherwise you re-set your metabolism low and plateau. That cheat day re-sets it higher.
The worse thing about going off for a day is getting a defeatist attitude--"I blew it and can not succeed."
Just put it behind you and start again.

Every 5 pound increment I reward myself. If I gain, I can not have a reward for the same marker.

Platypusimus

What day? Sorry cheat day you said. You are only cheating yourself. Plus diet is a bad word, diets always fail. :explode:

I had a trainer tell me essentially that. But the extra calories of a "cheat day" can actually help with a spike in metabolism.

Plus, every once in a while, having that guilty pleasure helps one to maintain a healthier diet. Don't be so harsh.

ty987678

I have heard that cheat days are ok. I guess I just try and do the math so that I am still burning more calories per week than I am consuming. Not sure that is a great method though.

mgobluetx12

A cheat day every single week is a bad idea. Why feed into bad habits by overeating over the course of a whole day every week? Just work some of the foods you love into your macros during the week and you won't feel the need to "cheat' at all. Anyway, if you're working on a new healthy lifestyle, there's nothing to cheat on.

MarshaMole

I started MFP the second week in January..today was the first day I went over my calorie allowance and I didnt exercise..I had planned to exercise because I knew the meal I would have at night was not one I would be making myself but the kids that were making the meal needed help so the 3 extra hours I had today ended up not being extra hours ..

Anyway I do not feel guilty for going over my calories but wish I could have exercised but tomorrow is another day and I will work extra hard tomorrow.

I dont really want to have a cheat day because I know I can go overboard but I do allow for a meal that I would normally not eat for special occasians

fionahay

As opposed to a cheat day it's better to have a cheat meal - like a chinese or dessert or something once a week. I try and eat fairly cleanly all week then have a bit of cake or something at the weekend to avoid feeling like I'm restricting myself too much and so will end up having a binge. Like tomorrow is mothers day - so I'll have some cake with my mum tomorrow - but back to normal eating after that.

MeeshyBW

I don't agree with a cheat day as it is counter productive to your healthy eating habits.

If you allocate a designated cheat day you are almost setting yourself up to make poor food choices.

My view is if the occasion comes up to decide that you want to eat that slice of cake, glass of wine, bowl of ice cream to then decide if you want to and if you believe it is worth it.

Cheat days set yourself up to fail if you ask me.

wyrdmage

There is nothing scientifically wrong with a cheat day, but some people can't do it. If you still have the mentality of "I really want that, but this diet says I can't" then even after losing the weight, you will revert back to old habits and regain everything you lost. The point of a diet is not to lose weight, but to change the way you view food. Eating isnt about pleasure, it is about fuel. It is not something you look forward to, it is something that needs to be done. That doesnt mean that you cant enjoy it, it just means that it isnt something that should be an actual activity for you, and a cheat day simply reaffirms the idea that healthy foods are bad, and unhealthy foods are treasures.

JJordon

Depends on your goals. If you gotta ALOT to lose, perhaps just a cheat meal, instead of a cheat day. Now, if you are at or near goal weight, sure, I guess a cheat day makes sense.

never124get

I'm all for it, in fact I do it, except in meal form. Once a week and one meal, but I try to keep the rest of the meals healthy. I know myself and I know if I don't allow myself to have it and I restrict myself too much I WILL fail because I will end up gorging myself with food. I'm over coming a horrible binge purge cycle that controlled my life. My doctor has told me that cheat meals are a good idea for me....I track everything I eat and everything that I use (oil, spices etc) to cook with. This site has helped me tremendously with the fact that I can actually see what I'm eating and it's helping me realize it's easy to have a healthier lifestyle while still being able to enjoy life. Rather than just grabbing food and mindlessly putting it into my mouth I make better decisions. I don't see cheat meals as setting yourself up for failure...because I'm succeeding...and beating something I thought I would deal with the rest of my life.


I guess you just have to know yourself...and your limits...

Sometimes I feel like I want more and more and more but then I will take out my phone or log onto the computer to MFP and it reminds me how far I've come and why I'm doing this. If you know you can control yourself do it, not everyone is the same and sometimes a thing that will work for one person won't work for another.


But as for your predicament with eating at your friends party, one day doesn't make a lifetime. To have a healthy/healthier lifestyle I know I have to take baby steps, for others it's easy for them to go cold turkey. I know I surely can't. :noway:


To sum it up if you can do it in moderation I say go for it.

healthygreek

There is nothing scientifically wrong with a cheat day, but some people can't do it. If you still have the mentality of "I really want that, but this diet says I can't" then even after losing the weight, you will revert back to old habits and regain everything you lost. The point of a diet is not to lose weight, but to change the way you view food. Eating isnt about pleasure, it is about fuel. It is not something you look forward to, it is something that needs to be done. That doesnt mean that you cant enjoy it, it just means that it isnt something that should be an actual activity for you, and a cheat day simply reaffirms the idea that healthy foods are bad, and unhealthy foods are treasures.

For me eating is all about pleasure. I just had a "cheat" week and no regrets at all! I vaca on a Carribean island for my birthday. I had 3 wonderful meals per day including dessert. I had some wine and vodka. We walked to the beach each day and snorkeled for hours. I gained 4 pounds but its ok. It was worth it and now I'm back and the extra weight will be gone soon and I'll have amazing memories. It's all about your general healthy lifestyle and I don't call it cheating-I call it life.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

It's fine as long as you don't eat so much that you blow your deficit. A lot of people go with a cheat meal instead. When I was losing I would occasionally just eat my maintenance calories if I had a special event. I didn't have them every week though, just when I really needed it.

What I did instead of a weekly cheat is just to work what I wanted into my calories. So if I wanted a bacon cheeseburger I had it, but I made it fit my goal. That way I didn't lose any progress. It worked really well for me.

dimedawg

They have worked for me...I build in 1 per week (Sunday) but follow it with a fast day...I've never lost more

wvgirlnfl

As opposed to a cheat day it's better to have a cheat meal - like a chinese or dessert or something once a week. I try and eat fairly cleanly all week then have a bit of cake or something at the weekend to avoid feeling like I'm restricting myself too much and so will end up having a binge. Like tomorrow is mothers day - so I'll have some cake with my mum tomorrow - but back to normal eating after that.

I agree with this! Plan something special that you want to eat and go for it! The main thing is to forgive yourself and get back at it! That's what the danger in a cheat meal or day is for me...

meeemy

You didnt destroy ur diet by it, as long as you go on eating healthy again the next day.
And you shouldnt feel guilty about it too. It happend..so what?
If u did enjoy it than just be happy and move on
Its not like u will gain all the weight u lost back by just making some bad choices once

Nissi51

I have a controlled cheat meal once per week. I have lost over 100lbs, kept it off and am prepping for a figure comp and STILL have one meal outside of my rigid meal plan every week. One meal will not make you fat anymore than one good meal a week will help you lose weight! They also keep me sane

"Cheat" meals go wrong when they are actually binges and/or they derail you. No one eats perfectly all he time, we have life hat gets in the way!

Great article:

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/flexible-versus-rigid-dieting.html

aloranger7708

I take "cheat" days but prefer to call it a "treat" meal :happy:

I don't completely indulge for the entire day. I usually plan to go to a restaurant for dinner, maybe a drink OR dessert. The whole day leading up to that ONE meal I eat small, light meals and spend a little extra time running/working out.

I think cheat days can be good if you utilize them the right way, but eating junk from the moment you wake up until midnight isn't the right way to go (that's my opinion, anyway...)

Actually, I find ways to incorporate sweets into certain dishes because I'm someone who LOVES chocolate and wouldn't be able to make it a week to my cheat meal without it :laugh: For lunch I'll have some 'cookie dough' greek yogurt (pb, honey, vanilla, cchips) or melt some dark chocolate and dip strawberries in it.

wattsy84

I have a cheat day every Saturday as I play football for 90mins I need to fill up on carbs in the morning and pre game then I treat myself to a few beers and a good meal with the wife and a nice desert afterwards! Something to look forward to at the end of a hungry week! Go for it and I bet you still lose weight!

Mia_RagazzaTosta

80/20.

Make 80% of your intake quality foods. Perfection is not sustainable.

leahestey

I don't have cheat days because I eat what I crave within my calorie allowance so I don't go crazy by the time that cheat day comes around. That DOESN'T mean I don't fall off the wagon.I just get back up and get with the program the next day.

dannyennis74

Hi , I have a cheat day once a week, perfectly fine and it does help, but on your clean days , make sure its clean,

Danny

wattsy84

Could a cheat day undo a good week of clean eating if say I go over my calories by 1000+ just for that one day?

kellyw036

So I totally pigged out at a party. -_-
I felt super guilty, so I asked my mom if I had utterly destroyed my diet. She said that when one of her friends went on a diet, they allowed themselves one "cheat day" a week to eat pretty much whatever they wanted, and they still lost weight.
Is it okay to take a cheat day? I mean, can you still lose weight just as long as you're good every other day of the week?

Look into the "Spike Diet" good information

CongoClark81

As opposed to a cheat day it's better to have a cheat meal - like a chinese or dessert or something once a week. I try and eat fairly cleanly all week then have a bit of cake or something at the weekend to avoid feeling like I'm restricting myself too much and so will end up having a binge. Like tomorrow is mothers day - so I'll have some cake with my mum tomorrow - but back to normal eating after that.

I totally agree! A cheat meal once a week or maybe once in a while is good but I full cheat day seems like too much

ameliaannakin

I don't agree with having a 'cheat day' personally as I feel the only person I am cheating is myself. I tend to have a little bit of what I fancy every now and again but i always try and make sure it is within my calorie goal by eating healthily around it. My personal trainer is totally the opposite though and he eats clean Monday to Saturday but has a total binge day on a Sunday eating everything from McDonald's breakfasts, KFC lunches, takeaway for tea and unlimited chocolate, crisps or biscuits in between. His girlfriend does it with him and she is also tiny and it has done them no harm so each to their own... I personally don't think my body could take it though!

Ax

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oncearound

This is an interesting yet controversial topic for many attempting to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle. I had trouble with this question for a very long time...bothered me so much that I started to research and ask questions of nutritionists and doctors (I'm a nurse and work with many different health professions). What it boils down to, is how well do you know yourself and what you want? I tried to lose weight a million different ways and have succeeded some and failed at pretty much all of them. Each program was different but one thing remained the same....I set unrealistic expectations for me and tried to push too hard and fast. I have seen some fantastic results on these boards, but I don't need the 12-pack abs (I just want flat) so Insanity is probably not something I will do because honestly, I'm just too lazy. I work out 5 days a week (doing things that make me sweat and don't kill me when I'm done and I PIG OUT ON SUNDAYS! (And I don't feel one bit guilty about it.) The same concept can be used in food as it is in exercise. Insanity workout works on 'muscle confusion'..the muscles don't know whats coming next so they can't get used to anything and form nicely (look at some of these pics around here). Your body does the same with food. When I look at my food diaries, I consume roughly the same number of calories everyday except Sunday..somewhere around 800-1000. For most, they are going to say "that is way to few calories", but I am satisfied and full at this level so I stay there...but I also limit a lot of the stuff I love Monday thru Saturday. I weigh in Sunday morning and then eat whatever I want after that until I go to bed on Sunday, then repeat the next week. I confuse my body by giving it a ton to eat and then reduce it again. This does not work for everyone because some can't revert back on Monday...I can and do and the weight is coming off consistently. Before you start this process (Cheat Day) make sure you have the willpower to revert back because if you don't think you can, you won't! I have talked with many different nutritionists and doctors and they say it is safe and pretty common to do this, some of us just do it naturally. But again, find what works for you. If it works do it...if not don't! Good luck !